Grate support



May 19, 1931. i G. B. ASHWORTH GRATE SUPPORT Fil ed June 26, 1928Patenteel lv'iay, 19, 1931 GEORGE nnsnwon-TH, on

NT) orrice 4 1 4 YORK ene SUQPORT Application filed me 26,

pensive structure 1 of such character, which will be readly applicablein fireboxes-of present standard type, and which,in service, will beunafiected by distortion of thefirebox and will make air tight jointstherewith.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth. H

In the accompanying drawingsz Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection, on the line a a of Fig. 2, through a grate support em bodyingthe invention, applied in a locomotive firebox; Fig. 2, a half plan ortop view thereof, with the firebox in section on the line b b of Fig. 1;Fig. 3,'a vertical transverse section, on the line 0 '0 of Fig. 1; Fig.4, a similar section, on an enlarged scale, on the line (i d'of Fig. 2,and; Fig. 5, a similar section, on the. line 6 e of Fig. 2. c

, In the practice of he invention referring descriptively to thespecific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, and to itsapplication in a locomotive firebox, the composite members of the gratesupport arecomprehended in an integral structure, which is cast inmetal, the heat resisting qualities of which are such as to reduce to aminimum. thetendency to distort and cramp the grate bars. The gratesupport, 2, is a' quadrilateral frame, conforming, in plan view, to thefirebox, 1, in which it is applied, the water legs of said firebox beingclosed,at bottom, by a mud ring, 1a, in the ordinary manner. Thefrontand rear members of the support, are connected by an integralcentre member, 2a.

The grate resting upon the support, may be of any suitable and preferredcharacter,and

in thisinstance is shown as'of the rocking type and comprising'aplurality of slatsor flat bars, 3. Means for suspending the grate uponthe support, 2, are formedthereon, these being, for the rocking grateshown, a plurality of trunnions, 2?), upon which the grates may berocked by a shaker, in the usual manner. The entire grate support-structure, 2,

. inner sheet, H

attachedltothe, mud ring, through lugs,

20,depending from the side members and pro jectmgioutwardlytherefrom,below the mud "ring, to which they are secured by studs, 2d,".tapped'into it. The lugs, 20, also serve for the attachment of theside sheets of the ash pan. a I 1 For the purpose offle'nsuring airtightv closure betweenzthe side and end members of the, support or grateframe and the inside sheetsj'ofthe firebox,-sealing plate strips, 4, arela1d on thetopsof the side and end mem- -bers1of thesupport," with oneof their edges contacting withthe firebox sheets, and are welded orotherwise secured in place, on the frame. ;It is well known inlocomotive practice the drafts of cool air leaking in from the margins'-,,Of' the grate produce undesirable contraction of the areas of theinner firebox sheetsjsubjected to such drafts, hastening the breakingdown of such sheets. Where the grate frameis-set in place as a unit,-itis J impossible tov make a snug fit with the fire box sheets, due toitheirregular contour of the sheets, and of the grate frameitself. If ,theframe .ismovedto. one side to closeithe gap, it will open awider gap onthe other side...:"Whereseparate'cast sidebars are used forsupportingthe grate bars dilficult chipping operationmust beresorted to, to insurea .proper fit. j The present invention: enables a snug fit'to be madebymerely adjusting the, thin'sealing strips 4, into proper engagementwiththe innerv sheet after the grate frame has been installed andwelding them in .place. The invention. therefore, provides a commercialand convenient means of: effectively closing gaps betweenithe frame andthe lathe integral support structure above described, the side andcentremembers are g fixedly spaced apart by-the end members,

thereby providing and maintaining a predetermined clearance for therocking ofthe grate bars, anadva-ntage not-presented m the ordinaryconstruct-10min which the side and centre members are separatelyapplied, with V the result of allowing movement of one relativelytoanother, on account of warpa-ge, or ,distortionlof the fire-box due topressure or heat. Such movement occurs to the extent that the grate barsbecome cramped and prevented from rocking, or, if sufiicient force isapplied, will be displaced.

It is, further, in the application of the invention, possible toassemble all the grate bars in the support, before locating it in thefirebox, which attains the advantage of checking the grate bar clearancemuch more conveniently than if all the parts were installed in operativeposition in the firebox. A further advantage is the elimination of thefront and rear brackets necessary to position the centre member inpresent practice; If the firebox should be of such width as to requiremore than the two parallel'rows of rocking grate bars herein shown, theinvention" is equally well adapted to the conditiomas additional centresupport members, spacedand joined in the integral structure by the-endmembers, will only be required The invention claimed and desired to be Psecured by Letters Patent is: V

1. Ina locomotive, the combination'of a steam boiler firebox havinginner and outer sheets; a grate support structure therein, comprisingside and end members disposed within the walls of the boiler andconnected to same for support; and separately formedsealing plates,located on the tops of the side and end members, and contacting with theadjoining firebox sheet.

2. In a locomotive, the combination of a steam boiler; a grate supportstructure, comprising side and end membersattaehable-as a unit withinthe walls of the boiler andconnected to same for support; and'aplurality of separately formed sea-ling plates'disposed on the membersand contacting withthe adjoining boiler wall.

3. In a locomotive, thecombination of a steam boiler; agrate supportstructure attachable as a unit within the walls of the boiler andconnected to same for support, comprising side and center members spacedapart and connected by end members; and separately formed sealing plateslocated on the tops of the side and end members, and contacting with theadjoining boiler wall.

4. In a locomotive, the combinationof 'a steam boiler; a grate supportstructure atwall and supporting brackets pro 'ecting horizontally fromthe structure an secured to the bottom of the boiler, adapting thestructure to be inserted as a unit from the bottom of the boiler.

6. In a locomotive, a firebox having a sheet metal inner Wall; a.unitary grate support loosely fitting within the fire box providingspaces therebetween; means for rigidly securing the grate supportdetachably to the fire box extending beneath the grate support; andsheet metal sealing plates spanning the spaces between the grate supportwith the interior walls of the fire box.

7 In a locomotive, a fire box having a sheet inner wall; a unitary gratesupport loosely. fittingwithin the fire box providingspacestherebetween; means for rigidly securing thegrate supportdetachably to the fire box extending beneath the grate support; andsheet metal hermetically-sealed sealing ates spanning thespaees betweenthe grate support with the interior walls of the fire box.

GEORGE B. ASHWORTH. 1

tachable as a'unit within the walls of the boiler-and connected to samefor support, comprising side and end members; and separately formedsealing plates located on the tachable as a unit within the walls of theboiler and connected to same for support, comprising side and endmembers; separately formed sealing plates disposed on the membersandcontacting with the adjoining boiler

